as late as september the pentagon was saying they were still trying to understand what the law was. in december they hadn't started. just a few weeks ago they start coming out now with all these dooms day scenarios. the reality is that the president could have stopped it. the house of representatives has passed not one, but two bills that would have stopped it. the senate has done nothing. martha, when the president talks about a balanced budget, most americans think what he means we balance the amount of money coming in with the amount of money coming out. martha: right. >> that is not what the president talks about with balance. martha: that is interesting, jay carney quoted alan simpson but the other thing he did not quote that alan simpson said, if this president does not get serious about deficit reduction, including taking on medicare and social security and reforming those entitlement programs, that he will have a failed presidency. do you think that is a message republicans have done a good job getting across? >> well, martha, i think that it is very difficult sometimes when